Lahore High Court’s Justice Ayesha Malik is expected to become the first female judge in the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the country’s 74-year history. This is indeed a historic move and a proud moment for Pakistan.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed nominated her for the position, however, the decision will take place during a meeting of the Judicial Commission on September 9.
The body is considering appointing her as a judge for Supreme Court as Justice Mushir Alam is about to retire on August 17. If she is appointed, she will remain in the office until March 2031. Justice Ayesha Malik ranks number four on the seniority list of the Lahore High Court.
Netizens are celebrating this move on social media and many are hopeful that she wouldn’t be the only female judge in the SC.
Justice Ayesha Malik, a woman in Supreme Court ; another glass ceiling being broken. Many more to go. pic.twitter.com/F58VPHwsSY
— Maria Memon (@Maria_Memon) August 12, 2021
A proud moment for Pakistan 🇵🇰
Justice Ayesha Malik makes history; becomes the first woman to be elevated to the Supreme Court
Hope to see many many more! https://t.co/OGvDkc9az6
— Ayesha Raza Farooq (@AyeshaRaza13) August 13, 2021
Imagine. FIRST woman judge in Supreme Court of Pakistan in 74 years!
Good news ntl. May we see many more in years to come! Good luck and more power to Justice Ayesha Malik! https://t.co/9t09t0aIwo
— Shaza Fatima Khawaja (@ShazaFK) August 12, 2021
Feeling overwhelmed as Justice Ayesha Malik is elevated to Supreme Court of Pakistan. Another glass ceiling broken and what a phenomenal mind to be a part of apex court! Great news for all the women of Pakistan!
— Beenish Fatima (@beenshfatima) August 12, 2021
65 years since it's creation, the Supreme Court of Pakistan will soon have Justice Ayesha Malik as the first female judge in the Court. May this be the turning point towards a more inclusive Court.
— Ahsan Qazi (@AhsanQzi) August 12, 2021
Justice Ayesha Malik declared the two-finger test illegal
In January 2021, the Lahore High Court had declared virginity tests for examination of sexual assault survivors “illegal and against the Constitution of Pakistan.”
A single bench led by Justice Ayesha Malik announced the verdict in a set of petitions, filed in March and June 2020 by rights activists along with a PML-N lawmaker.
In the 30-page judgment, the judge wrote that the two-finger test (TFT) and hymen test have no medical basis or forensic value in cases of sexual violence and declared that virginity tests,
“offend the personal dignity of the female victim and therefore is against the right to life and right to dignity enshrined in Article 9 and 14 of the Constitution”
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